The fast start to the 2016-17 season continues for the Utah women’s basketball team after a convincing 77-60 victory against in-state school and long time rival, BYU.
The game started out slow, as both teams played solid defense. After an 8-8 tie in the first quarter, BYU turned the heat up and the Cougars finished the quarter on a 12-5 run, taking a 20-13 lead into the second. BYU led by as many as 10 points near the end of the first. A 5-2 run by the Utes cut that deficit to seven points.
Things changed in the second quarter as junior guard Malia Nawahine made back-to-back threes to kickstart the stagnant Ute offense. Nawahine did most of her damage in the second quarter, as she hit three triples, and she scored 10 of her 16 points in the quarter.
“That kind of got the nerves out a little bit,” Roberts said, referring to Nawahine’s back to back threes. “BYU came to play, we knew they would, and they are a very, very good team. The first quarter is when everyone’s execution is on point, and they were running their stuff and hitting their shots. It kind of took the lid off a little, took the pressure off of us when she hit those threes, and it got us going.”
The Utes went on a tear in the second quarter, outscoring the Cougars 20-10, and they held them to just 28.6 percent shooting from the field and 20 percent from downtown. At halftime, the Utes had turned a seven point deficit into a three point lead.
“We got going offensively a little bit at Reno earlier in the week, and I think that kind of carried over to tonight’s game,” said head coach Lynne Roberts. “But we’ve been winning this year because of our defense. That’s been the key to our success so far.”
As the third quarter opened, the Utes came out and went on a furious 17-0 run, bringing their lead to 20. Junior center Emily Potter did most of her damage then — she went 6-for-6 in the third, and she hit two free throws for 14 of her team-high 21 points. Potter also grabbed four boards, and she had one block and one steal. At the end of the third, Utah led the team down south by a score of 60-37.
But even more so than the offense, perhaps the biggest key to Utah’s victory was the stifling defense played by Nawahine.
“What’s bigger than all these stats is the defense. Makenzi Pulsipher is an amazing shooter, and tonight we held her to just 2-of-15 shooting,” Roberts said. “That’s all due to Malia’s defense. I wouldn’t want her guarding me for one minute, let alone for 40.”
When asked about her defensive effort, Nawahine revealed she had another motive besides just winning.
“The last time I played against her, she shut me down,” Nawahine said. “Tonight I was definitely playing with a chip on my shoulder trying to return the favor.”
The win moves the ladies in red to 9-0 on the season, still perfect in spite of the tough competition. The Utes are also only one of 17 teams still undefeated on the year.
Up next for the Utes is a home game against another in-state school when they take on Weber State on Saturday, Dec. 17. Tipoff for the game is set for 1 p.m.
@JaredWalch